10 Best Cruisers Ever Made

[Suzuki Johnny]

Cruiser motorbikes, the iconic two-wheeler that has been both popularized and ostracized by Hollywood in its many stereotypical depictions of motorbike culture. No other motorcycle can give off the aura of badass-ery than a laid-back cruiser-style motorbike.
One would be mistaken that Harley-Davidson is the leading producer of cruiser motorbikes. It’s true that Harley-Davidson is the most popular brand of cruisers worldwide, but other brands also have their eyes set to dethrone HD from that coveted spot. The big four from Japan all have iconic cruisers and even the Europeans are giving the Milwaukee-based bike company a run for its money.

Out of all the cruisers that have ever been produced, it wasn’t easy choosing 10 that could be considered the best ever made. Although some may disagree with the names on this list, these are 10 of the best cruisers ever made, according to us.


Harley-Davidson Sportster
Although Harley enthusiasts tend to look down upon the Sportster seeing it as a girl's bike, it can’t be denied that most riders around the world first started on Harley’s smallest offering. First produced in 1957, as Harley’s most affordable offering, the Sportster is prized as one of the best bikes to easily customize.
The cruiser is powered by a four-stroke v-twin engine that produces enough power to keep the machine desirable after all these years. If you are looking for a cruiser motorcycle that will serve you perfectly as a daily ride, and you also have an inkle to customize your ride, the Harley-Davidson Sportster is your perfect pick.

Honda Valkyrie
What do you get when you strip off all the fairings of the Honda Gold Wing that make it a legendary tourer, then redesign it into a cruiser? Honda’s answer to that question was the Honda Valkyrie which was first released back in 1997. Seen as the first cruiser bike to ever have a flat-six engine taken from Honda’s reliable Gold Wing, it was no wonder the Valkyrie became a sought-after motorbike of its time.
Honda even released a tourer version of the Valkyrie complete with classic bagger styling, dubbed the Valkyrie Interstate. Although it was discontinued by Honda in 2003, it has been announced that Honda has plans to bring the name back as the Honda Valkyrie GL1800C with a more modern look.

Ducati Diavel
The Italian brand may be more synonymous with super bikes than cruisers, but Ducati’s Diavel puts the word performance in performance-cruiser. First Unveiled to the public at the 2010 EICMA show, the bike instantly turned many heads with its unique design and especially its Twin Cylinder Testastretta DVT1262 which claims 152 horsepower and 93 pound feet of torque.
Being Italian-made, you can be sure that this bike is a winner in the looks department, sporting luxury material and of course only the best technology found on any cruiser motorcycle. Having ridden the Diavel, we can say it is quite different from any other cruiser.

Kawasaki Vulcan 900
Kawasaki’s Vulcan 900 has been a long contender in Harley-Davidson’s shadow since it was first released back in 1984. At first glance, you would not be mistaken for thinking it was an HD, but the beefy 903 cc V-twin engine does produce a different note. In my opinion, Kawasaki came very close to matching the thumping sound of a Harley engine.
Boasting a hearty 50 horsepower and 58 pound-feet of torque, the Vulcan offers enough grunt to satisfy most riders. Fitted with a smooth five-speed transmission, and a 5.3-gallon fuel tank that screams to be taken on long rides, the Vulcan 900 is considered one of the best beginner cruisers ever made.

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy
If you were a teenage boy when you saw Arnold Schwarzenegger jump a Fat Boy in the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day, you probably dreamed of owning one. Look up the word "Cruiser" in a dictionary and chances are the picture will be of the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. That is how iconic this American dream cruiser is.
With a tradition of hot rod culture, this chrome-covered beast was meant for the open road and even included a passenger seat, so riders could have some company. The big V-twin Engine is well known for its crisp throttle response and performance. The commanding stance of the Fat Boy is easily recognizable, leaving no argument when identifying this behemoth of a bike.

Indian Chief
The Indian Chief is another iconic cruiser that has been in production since the 1920s. Despite disappearing in the 50s, the Indian brand was reborn at the turn of the millennium, and so was this iconic bike. Original Chief motorbikes from back in the day are hard to come by, but if you want to feel old-fashioned American heritage, the modern interpretations of the classic are readily available.
The newer models are fitted with a 1811cc v-twin engine that is said to produce 76 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque. The newer models are easy to distinguish due to their large saddle seats reminiscent of the classic Chief cruisers of old. Indian hit the nail on the head in combining the best elements of the classic in this modern interpretation.

Harley-Davidson Softail
If you were as big of a fan of the show American Chopper as I was, the Harley-Davidson Softail is sure to make it to a top 10 cruiser list. It was first introduced by Harley in 1984 as a response to the growing popularity of custom choppers at that time. The bike had the look of a classic hardtail motorcycle but was fitted with a hidden rear suspension.
The Harley-Davidson Softail has been a popular platform for customizing and performance upgrades since it was first introduced, and the aforementioned Fatboy is in actual fact a bulked-up Softail. All modern Harley-Davidson cruisers in a way now all utilize the Softail frame to offer a much more comfortable ride.

Yamaha VMAX
Before the Ducati Diavel, Yamaha shocked cruiser enthusiasts with its V4-powered cruiser, the VMAX. Ever since the prototype was first announced in 2005, the VMAX has left riders in awe at the bike's power and performance. Yamaha was able to spark a perfect combination of beauty and pure fearsome power in this drag-inspired bike. A little trivia for video game fans, the motorbike Cloud Strife rides in Final Fantasy VII is based on this motorbike.
Fitted with a 1679 cc liquid-cooled 65° V4 DOHC engine inside an all-aluminum frame, the VMAX is said to produce close to 200 horsepower at 123 pound-feet of torque which powers the back wheel through a shaft drive. Despite all that power, Yamaha kind of failed in making this easy to maneuver. Yes, it went like a bat out of hell on the straight, but was not easy to turn at speed.

Suzuki Boulevard M109R
One of the newest entries on the best cruiser bike list comes from Suzuki in the form of the Boulevard M109R. Suzuki was able to iron out Yamaha’s failings in the VMAX, to create a power cruiser that was designed to be loud, proud, and in your face.
The 1783 cc, 54-degree, V-twin engine rumbles through a pair of large-diameter mufflers to produce 125 horsepower at 118 pound-feet of torque. Sure, it is less than what the VMAX offers, but compared to Yamaha’s power cruiser, the Suzuki Boulevard M109R is easier to handle, even at high speeds. A power cruiser that’s great for the highway as well as tackling the twisties.

Indian Scout
Indian Motorcycles dropped a major bomb on cruiser fans when it first launched the Scout back in 2015. Many cruiser motorcycle enthusiasts instantly fell in love with this modern cruiser that still maintained classic characteristics. Is it any wonder why the Indian Scout was voted one of the best cruiser bikes of the year by various publications?
Fitted with an 1130 cc, 60-degree V-twin engine, it is claimed to produce 100 horsepower at 72 pound-feet of torque. Compared to the Indian Chief, the updated Scout is very different from its original predecessor, but what it lacks in legacy, this bike makes up for in all-out performance and style. Indian proved that big twin air-cooled engines did not make the best cruiser engine.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusi ... 7439&ei=61